Babusar Top (4,173 m) is the highest point on any Kaghan itinerary and the most seasonal: buried under metres of snow for eight months and open for barely four. Because its dates move with each winter’s snowpack, “when does Babusar open?” has a pattern, not a fixed answer — here is that pattern and how to check the live status for your dates.
The Typical Calendar
| Period | Status |
|---|---|
| November – May | Closed — snow depth on the pass can exceed 6 m |
| Late May – mid-June | Clearing operations; road opens progressively past Jalkhad/Besal |
| Mid-June – early July | Typical opening window for through-traffic to the Top and Chilas |
| July – mid-September | Reliably open; occasional brief weather closures after storms |
| Late September – October | Closes with the first heavy snowfall — some years late Sep, some mid-Oct |
How Opening Actually Works
FWO and highway crews cut the road from both sides each spring, carving the famous snow corridors photographs love. The pass often opens in stages — first to the Top for tourism, then through to Chilas — and early weeks feature single-lane snow walls, water crossings from melt, and timing restrictions. Even mid-season, a violent storm can shut the pass for a day or two while crews clear; itineraries with a spare day absorb this gracefully.
Checking Live Status
The reliable sources are people on the road: WhatsApp us at 0333-0140484 — our drivers cross the upper valley daily in season — or ask your hotel in Naran the evening before. Police checkpoints at Batakundi and Besal also turn traffic when conditions demand; carry ID and respect their calls.
Season-Edge Strategy
Travelling in June or late September and want the pass? Book a 4-day-plus itinerary so a closed morning can swap with a Shogran or Lalazar day, keep Babusar as the last upper-valley day of your trip for maximum flexibility, and treat any “pass opens tomorrow” rumour with morning-of verification. The full pass experience — what is on top, altitude notes, costs — lives in our Babusar Top guide.